Researchers say Alvarado’s win was a result of the IACHR's decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

The representative of the Evangelical National Restoration party, Fabricio Alvarado, received increased support from the Costa Rican people according to a recent poll from the University of Costa Rica.

Within the course of a month the candidate rose form three percent to 17, as the public warms up to his conservative and homophobic views. Some 1,013 people were interviewed by phone from researchers of the university’s Investigation and Political Studies Center (CIEP).

With a margin of 3.1 points given to error, Alvarado emerged in first place with Attorney, former security minister Juan Diego Castro coming in second with 16 percent of the vote and former legislator and Cabinet minister Antonio Alvarez Desanti taking third with 11 percent.

Some 27 percent of voters were undecided and all 13 candidates were far from the 40 percent minimum needed to win outright in the first round.

According to researchers, Alvarado’s rise to popularity may have been a “religious shock” in reaction to the Inter American Court of Human Rights’ recent decision to legalized same-sex marriage.

“This is a people that are not happy with the way the Inter-American Court has violated our sovereignty, and because (Fabricio Alvarado) is the candidate who is most vehement in that position, the people identify with us,” Alvarado told news site ameliarueda.com.

Alvarado is confident of his sudden rise to popularity with other publications claiming similar results such as the OPol Consultores, Demoscopia, and CID-Gallup. However, voters will determine his true standing as they approach the polls on April 1 to choose the top two party candidates who will run the rest of the presidential election alone.